75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2014 Completed)
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Jan's 2014 Challenge
2. The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #8) by Louise Penny4+ stars
An Inspector Gamache mystery never fails to please. Beautifully written and full of wisdom and insight. The narrator, Ralph Cosham, adds to the enjoyment with his excellent narration.
Hi, Jan. Nice to see you! I have an Inspector Gamache mystery on my Kindle . . . I am going to have to make sure I get to that one soon. (I think it might be the first in the series).
Karol wrote: "Hi, Jan. Nice to see you! I have an Inspector Gamache mystery on my Kindle . . . I am going to have to make sure I get to that one soon. (I think it might be the first in the series)."Thanks. You're in for a treat! And they just get better and better.
3. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce, #6) by Alan Bradley (audio) 4 stars
This series continues to be a delight. For those new to the series, I recommend reading them in order.
What can I say….I adore Flavia. She is precocious, clever, snarky (in a cute, amusing way), and a fearless chemist. Any discussion of the plot is impossible without spoilers, but readers are given some answers surrounding Harriet’s disappearance and her family’s role during WWII. I found a few events a tad confusing and improbable but I had no problem suspending disbelief and enjoying the ride.
The tone of this book is a bit different and Flavia has to deal with serious events. The scene with her father near the novel’s end tugged at my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes. There is a twist at the end that promises more exciting adventures for Flavia and I can only hope that she stays as adorable as always and our favorite characters continue to make an appearance. (I did miss the Inspector!) Mr. Bradley can't write these fast enough.
4. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt5 stars
While it’s not a perfect book, the good is so good that it completely overshadows the book’s flaws. First, the bad. The sheer length…so many words used to often describe fairly mundane events. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. The first half kept me thoroughly enthralled and fighting the urge to flip the pages as fast as I could so I could slow down and savor the beauty of the writing. The second half didn’t quite live up to its earlier promise and the story became a bit of a slog at times. There were too many unlikely coincidences and improbable plot twists used solely to move the story along. Lastly, I found the pseudo-philosophical musings of our narrator at the end of the book preachy and tacked on solely to give the book “meaning”.
But then there’s the good. The writing itself is simply stunning. The characters are well-developed and the settings so real I felt as if I were there on the pages with the characters. Boris is undoubtedly one of literature’s most colorful and memorable characters. Hobie…well, I absolutely loved him. Who wouldn't want a Hobie in their life?! Theo? I started out feeling a great amount of sympathy for his plight but ended up frustrated and disgusted by him. Other character, like Pippa, weren't quite so developed. But for most of the characters, it's impossible to not feel strongly about them, one way or another.
It’s a rare book that can justify nearly 800 pages. I probably would have loved this book even more with a brutal editor. Ultimately, my rating reflects the fact that this is a book I simply can’t forget. Even weeks later, I find myself thinking about it often and wanting to discuss it with others who have read it. And that is a sign of a great read.
Mod
Elyse wrote: "I bought Goldfinch when it was a Kindle Daily Deal for $2.99! I need to start reading it soon but boy, is 800 pages an endeavor! Lol. I have to finish the 2 series I'm reading and ten I can dive in!"Elyse, I jumped the gun when it was offered as an e-book for $7-$8 but was still a steal at that price. I know audios aren't for everyone but I have an Audible account and used the whispersync feature to move between reading and listening. The narrator was fabulous and added to my enjoyment.
As you've probably seen, the reviews are all over the place. I'll look forward to your thoughts when you get around to it.
Except for that first book, looks like you've had some great reading this month!
Charleen wrote: "Except for that first book, looks like you've had some great reading this month!"yes, a very good month! :-)
5. Sycamore Row by John Grisham3.5 stars
Seth, a semi-recluse and self-made millionaire, is dying of advanced cancer and decides to commit suicide before the cancer kills him. Just days before his suicide, he wrote a holographic will naming Lettie, his black maid, the sole heir of the bulk of his estate. He mails the will, along with specific instructions, to Jake Brigance, the lawyer we first met in A Time To Kill. It’s 3 years later and Jake has fallen on hard times and is in a career rut. But this case promises to be a blockbuster.
Jake is right. Before long, Seth’s adult children, with a bevy of big-city lawyers, descend on the little town of Clanton, Mississippi to contest the hand-written will and uphold the will written previously, which left 90% of the estate to them.
The characters were well-developed and you couldn’t help but root for Jake and his colorful, eccentric team. The book started out strong and ended with a riveting courtroom drama. There were revelations and surprises along the way that kept my interest. I thought the middle got a bit bogged down and the pace slowed, but all-in-all, it was a pleasure to read.
6. How the Light Gets In (inspector Armand Gamache # 9) by Louise Penny 4 stars
I've been binge-listening to this series and I'm sad that now I'll have to wait a year till the next one.
There's a dual storyline, one involving the ongoing story of corruption in the police department (resolved at last!), while the other is an investigation into the murder of the last surviving sister of the nation's famous quintuplets.
Penny's theme of light vs dark, goodness vs evil continues and she's not afraid to show us the complexities that exist among these well-loved characters. I did miss the atmosphere of the village of Three Pines that was present in the earlier books, with its eccentric characters, art, poetry, and good food and wine. However, it's a Penney novel and I'm a huge fan so I still enjoyed it immensely.
JanB wrote: "5. Sycamore Row by John Grisham3.5 stars
Seth, a semi-recluse and self-made millionaire, is dying of advanced cancer and decides to commit suicide before the cancer kills him. Just days before h..."
I have this on my TBR. I'm hoping to pick it up next week!
Charleen wrote: "JanB wrote: "5. Sycamore Row by John Grisham3.5 stars
Seth, a semi-recluse and self-made millionaire, is dying of advanced cancer and decides to commit suicide before the cancer kills him. Just ..."
I hope you like it! It's not my favorite Grisham but was still a good read.
7. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger5+ stars!
This was an easy 5+ stars from me and will be on my "favorites of all time" book list. I listened to the audio version, which I highly recommend. In fact, the author himself said he imagined the book as a story told aloud to another and he is right. It was a superb listening experience. For fans of Krueger's mystery series, it should be noted that this is not a mystery in the strictest sense. There is a murder but it is not the main focus of the story.
On page 1 is a quote from Aeschylus:
"He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep, pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us through the awful grace of God".
That statement sums up the the major theme of the novel and Frank looking back says maybe that was what that fateful summer was all about: "...the terrible price of wisdom. The awful grace of God"
The story is told through Frank, as he recounts the events that happened 40 years earlier when he was a child. There is a strong sense of place, of small-town America in the early 60's, recognizable to those of us who grew up in that era. The novel opens with a loss, and the themes of loss, hope, love, and faith are carried throughout the novel. Many of the characters in the story are broken in some way - by war, physical infirmities, failed ambitions - and in ways we all have areas of brokenness. In the words of the author in an interview (and I paraphrase), life is about taking those broken pieces and creating a whole. Not a perfect whole, but through the "awful grace of God" (those things that passes human understanding), we make it work. I realize this sounds like heavy-handed depressing religious book but it's written in such a quiet elegant way, that it never comes across that way. No review I write could possibly do justice to this quiet powerful novel so I'll stop here and just say this is a book I highly recommend!
There's a bonus author interview at the end of the audio book that is well worth the time to listen to.
8. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd2 stars, maybe 2.5
(read for book club)
2.5 stars for an "ok" read
This is the fictionalized story of the real life Sarah Grimke and the totally fictionalized Hettie (“Handful”), a slave girl given to Sarah on her 11th birthday. Both are yearning from freedom, Sarah from the constraints of the expected role of women of the era, and Hettie from slavery.
I appreciated learning the story of Sarah Grimke’s contribution to the abolitionist and women’s movement. I feel we should never forget this dark era of our country’s history and the terrible sacrifices of those who came before us. I appreciated the afterword, where the author explains where fact and fiction meet in the story.
Since Oprah chose the book for her book club, it will be elevated to best seller status, but yet, in the end, there was nothing in the story that lifted it (for me) from just an "ok" read. I found it a bit of a chore and didn't feel there was any new light shed on these issues. I know I'm in the minority (so many 4&5 stars?!) but the characters felt flat to me and the rating reflects my personal opinion only.
I listened to the audio, which I didn’t care for at all. The narrator's awful rendition of a stutter was distracting to the point where I wanted to throw my phone across the room every time "Sarah" spoke. I know it's not just the stutter alone because I finished another book today where there is a kid who stutters, but it was beautifully done by the narrator and NOT annoying in the least.
JanB wrote: "6. How the Light Gets In (inspector Armand Gamache # 9) by Louise Penny 4 stars
I've been binge-listening to this series and I'm sad that now I'll have to wait a year till the next one.
There's..."
Jan, Louise Penny had me binge-reading also! Three Pines and it's villagers had me captivated. I was very excited to hear that she will be releasing her new book in August.
Thanks! So I only have to wait 6 months now :)
Mod
4 stars
I've been binge-listening to this series and I'm sad that now I'll have to wait a year till the next one.
There's..."
I think I'm going to look into the Inspector Gamache series on audio!
9. Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman4 stars
This slim volume can be read in an hour or less, but contains nuggets of wisdom for anyone who is coping with difficulties in their life. And who among us isn’t? Most of Hoffman’s musings and advice aren’t all that earth-shattering or things you’ve never known or thought of, but sometimes it’s nice to be reminded by someone who has such a lovely way with words. (An added bonus is a recipe for brownies and a pattern for a knitted hat.)
This would make a nice book to keep on your nightstand to re-read a snippet at a time and would make a thoughtful addition to a care package for a friend in need.
10. My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind by Scott Stossel3.5, rounding up to 4 stars
In an age when we spend billions of dollars on psychotropic drugs, the title of this book drew me in. (and I'm a nurse, fascinated with psychology and neuroscience) The author himself has lived with crippling anxiety since childhood and his history, along with personal anecdotes, treatments, and therapies are included in the book (often amusingly), along with a vast amount of research into anxiety disorders. Nature vs nurture and genetics is covered along with the history of the disorder and how the definition has changed over the years. Some of the most interesting parts of the book are when Stossel talks about famous people who have struggled with crippling anxiety (Freud, Darwin….). The author’s sometimes amusing (and sometimes heartbreaking) personal experiences are sprinkled throughout the book, making what can sometimes be a bit technical more interesting.
This is not a self-help book, so those looking for definitive answers would be disappointed, but it can offer comfort and insight. This would be an interesting read for someone who has anxiety. And for those who don’t, it will lead to a better understanding of those who do.
I admit I skimmed some of the denser statistical information. Also, the vast amount of footnotes, most of which contained fascinating information, should have been incorporated into the body of the book. But all in all, the author's wry humor and interesting presentation of the material makes this a good read.
11. Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen2.5
2.5 I enjoyed Quindlen's Every Last One and last year's Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake so I was excited to read this one. She writes beautifully, I'm the right demographic, and the premise is a good one. Rebecca is 60 year old woman suffering an identity crisis when her success as a photographer is fading, her marriage has failed, and she is trying to provide for her aging parents and her son (although it's never quite clear WHY she was sending her son money).
Unfortunately, I found the first half slow-moving and rather uninteresting. The story picked up in the second half and some passages were quite well written and thought-provoking but in the end I would have liked it better to have Rebecca grow as a person without having everything tied up quite so neatly and perfectly. (view spoiler)
12. W is For Wasted by Sue Grafton3 stars
I've been a fan of this series since they began. I love Kinsey's witty observations, her penchant for fast food, and all her other quirks. I even like how the series is set in the 80's, which requires old-fashioned detective work. Her landlord, Henry, and Kinsey's other colorful friends, are delightful.
This book has two victims, a homeless man and a rather shifty private investigator. At first glance the deaths seem unrelated but as Kinsey investigates, it becomes clear the two are connected. A second plot revolves around Kinsey's newly found kin. I enjoyed the story, but at nearly 500 pages the book is overly (and unnecessarily) long. Some of the detail borders on the ridiculous (the salad spinner and the details of parking in a parking garage come to mind).
This isn't the best in the series and it isn't the worst. It seems Sue Grafton is tying up some loose ends and preparing for an end to the series. Understandable, but in the process Kinsey has lost her edge and is not quite as interesting a character. But still, I'll keep reading to the end and hope the next installment brings back the Kinsey we know and love.
JanB wrote: "11. Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen2.5
2.5 I enjoyed Quindlen's Every Last One and last year's Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake so I was excited to read this one. She writes beauti..."
Jan, I also think Anna Quindlen writes beautifully. Or at least I used to. I was one who did not enjoy Every Last One. And that unfavorable review of mine, while read and reviewed by me a long time ago, still garners "likes" to this day (I haven't quite figured out why). I decided that her latest book, Still Life With Breadcrumbs, would not be on my TBR list, as I have been disappointed by her more recent novels.
Alecia, I totally understand why Every Last One wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, even though I loved it. I joke that dysfunction is my favorite genre. Quindlen is a hit or miss author for me. While I loved Every Last One and her non-fiction, I really disliked Rise and Shine, a book many loved. Isn't it funny which reviews get attention? I wrote a one line review of Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks in 2007, a time when I wasn't yet posting many reviews, and it still gets "likes" to this day. 92 so far with 29 comments. Go figure?! lol
Another time a review of mine had a defensive comment posted by the author even though I gave the book 4 stars. Inappropriate IMO and awkward.
I would say the author's comment was very inappropriate, to say the least! I'm not fond of online confrontations. On the Every Last One review, someone made a comment that " I must be too young", I gather, to understand the meaning of the novel. Little did they know how old I am! Too funny. I let these comments slide, and I don't engage. At least so far...
Alecia wrote: "I would say the author's comment was very inappropriate, to say the least! I'm not fond of online confrontations. On the Every Last One review, someone made a comment that " I must be too young", I..."Alecia, I agree about not engaging in online confrontations. It's usually best to let it slide. Not worth it. I enjoy reading viewpoints other than my own as long as they are respectful. I've read about cyber bullying on GR and thankfully I haven't personally been exposed to that level of nastiness.
All the drama about some authors (or even rabid fans) responding to reviews is one reason I don't post reviews on Goodreads anymore. Not that I was ever involved in said drama... but the whole situation just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I contemplated leaving GR altogether, but I'm glad I decided not to. For now, anyway.
It's a shame they're allowed to ruin it for others. I'm glad you didn't leave GR, and I'm sure I speak for the group when I say that :)
13. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard 4 stars
A riveting account of the days leading up to and following Lincoln’s assassination that reads like a suspenseful novel. Although I’ve read several books on Booth and Lincoln I still learned some interesting facts that I didn’t know. This is not a dry account but is written in a way that made the key players came to life.
Highly recommended for those who love history and for those who think they don't but love a good conspiracy/suspense story.
14. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion4 stars
If you’re a fan of Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory, you’ll likely enjoy this quirky and amusing book. I would describe it as a "Sheldon meets Bridget Jones" story. The film rights have already been optioned.
Don is a professor of genetics and has Aspberger-like tendencies that leave him, although intelligent and well-educated, completely baffled at the nuances of social interaction. But it’s time to find a wife and he approaches the project in a clinical, detached manner (complete with a questionnaire). Enter the free-spirited Rosie. Rosie is embarking on a project of her own to find her biological father and enlists the aid of Don’s skill as a geneticist. Although Rosie is deemed to be totally unsuitable as a mate ( she's the polar opposite of wound-tight-as-a-drum Don), Don finds the project intriguing and agrees to help her. Thus, the “Wife Project” turns into the madcap “Father Project”.
Don’s geeky lack of social skills is endearing and charming, although maddening to those around him and provides much of the comic relief in the novel.
Although the book is witty and comical, it's not all fluffy and light. The underlying messages gives the novel some substance: not everyone fits the narrowly-defined “norm”, our pre-conceived notions can limit the people and experiences we allow into our lives, and love often defies rational explanations.
15. Think of a Number by John Verdon4 stars
Dave Gurney is a 40-something retired homicide detective living in rural upstate New York with his wife. He is a quiet introspective “inside” type guy while his wife Madeleine is an outdoorsy extrovert. She’s hoping to rebuild their relationship now that his stressful and time-consuming career is a thing of the past. They also have some unresolved issues from a tragedy in their past.
But being a detective is in his blood and much to his wife’s dismay, Gurney is drawn into the investigation of an intricate scheme of blackmail and murder when the police department asks for his help in solving the case.
This novel is the first in a series and much of the narrative is spent getting to know the characters. Gurney and his wife are smart and complicated and the tension in their exchanges gives them a depth not often seen in a typical murder mystery. It made me want to get to know them better. The mystery is clever and unique and while the resolution isn’t perfect (for all his brilliance Gurney can be a little slow sometimes!), the ending was a page-turner that kept me up way past my bedtime.
So glad you enjoyed this one! This is a great series. I can't wait for the next one to come out this summer.
16. Perfect by Rachel Joyce4 stars
Great writing, a clever plot, and beautifully rendered characters make this a compelling story. I cared deeply about Byron, Jim, and Diana and even now find myself thinking about their story.
In 1972, two seconds were added to the atomic clock. Byron, an unusually anxious boy, is fearful of this event and thinks nothing good can come of humans meddling with time. “Two seconds are huge,” he says. “It’s the difference between something happening and something not happening.” His worst fears are realized when, early on in the story, an accident occurs that (in Byron’s mind) is a result of those two seconds of time. The guilt his mother Diana feels over the incident causes her to behave in ways that are foreign to what Byron has come to expect and his perfectly ordered world is threatened. He and his friend James hatch “Operation Perfect” to save his mother from the aftermath of the accident. Byron’s world is falling apart and his childish attempts to cope and navigate an adult world become ever more heartbreaking.
Told in alternating chapters, there is also the story of Jim, set in the present day. Jim is severely OCD and has spent decades in and out of a psychiatric facility. He is all alone and ill-equipped to live in the world after years of institutional living. His tale is heartbreaking as well, but a minor accident opens the possibility of a better life.
This is a tragic tale of two lives but not one without hope. At times the middle felt a bit slow, but the payoff at the end is worth it. There is a revelation that I had figured out long before but it didn’t ruin the journey for me. There are a lot of discussion worthy topics presented that would make it perfect for book clubs: time, social class, mental illness, the futility and façade of perfection, as well as friendship and forgiveness.
I also loved Joyce's first book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (longlisted for the Man Booker prize), and can't wait to see what Joyce writes next!
17. Five Days in November by Clint Hill, Lisa McCubbin 4 stars
I read this right after listening to Killing Kennedy, and while I found the narrative in the other book more riveting, with more revelations, this one makes up for it in pictures and personal anecdotes from a member of Jackie Kennedy's Secret Service detail, an eyewitness who was there every step of the way in the days preceding and following JFK's assassination. Recommended!
18. Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard (audio)
4 stars
Interesting and well-written, this is a historical account of JFK's assassination, along with with details of the political climate of the times and the events and key players of JFK's presidency. For a subject that has been written about so many times, I still learned new information, all told in a way that I found difficult to put down. (If only history was taught this way in school!) The narration of the audiobook was very well done.
Wow, Perfect sounds really good! Added to my TBR!
Charleen, If you get around to reading it, I hope you like it as much as I did. It's not a "happy" story, but well-done IMO.
19. Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard 4 stars
This is a historical retelling of the life and death of Jesus in the context of the political and religious leaders of the times. Note: there are gruesome depictions of the cruel and brutal reign of the Romans and the debauchery of the times, as well as graphic descriptions of the crucifixion.
20. Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante4 stars
This is one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read. The narrator is Jennifer White, a 64 year old orthopedic surgeon, now retired due to advancing Alzheimer’s disease. Her best friend Amanda is found murdered and the grisly crime involved the removal of the fingers of one hand with surgical precision. Hand surgery happens to be Jennifer’s specialty, which makes her the prime suspect. This gives the book the ultimate unreliable narrator since she sometimes doesn’t even remember who Amanda is.
I didn’t find the mystery of who murdered Amanda as compelling as the portrayal of Jennifer's rapidly deteriorating mind. As the book progresses, she declines considerably. The majority of the book is a series of first person accounts of conversations Jennifer has with the people in her life, as well as her haphazard memories, both recent and long ago. Gradually we get a picture of Jennifer and the relationship she has (had) with her now-deceased husband, adult children, Amanda, and her caretaker. Not all are likable, but all are fascinating.
It took a while for me to adjust to the lack of quotations, and the unfiltered, muddled thoughts of a mind addled by dementia, but it was handled brilliantly. The mystery isn’t the center of the novel, which is good, because I found the resolution rather unsatisfying. But it matters little in this gripping novel.
21. Where'd You Go Bernadette by Marie Semple4 stars
This was a re-read for me for book club. Actually I listened to it and it was just as enjoyable the second time around. The narrator is perfect. The author is a screenwriter and her credits include Arrested Development and Saturday Night Live. It shows - there were many laugh-out-loud moments.
Here's Marie Semple in a hilarious pitch for her novel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpbMMu...
22. You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz4 stars
Compulsively readable, well-written, and thought-provoking. Grace is a therapist, married to a pediatric oncologist, and mother of a 12 year old son, Henry. She’s wound very tight, is a snob, and not very likable. The first part of the book is a rather scathing portrayal of Grace’s rarefied world on the Upper East Side of NYC. But to Grace, life is good and about to get better with the publication of her book. The book's title is You Should Have Known (nice touch!), and is based on her experience counseling patients whose love lives and marriages are a shambles because they refused to see what was right in front of them from the beginning of the relationship. Her book is getting a lot of media buzz, including a Vogue photo shoot and a guest spot on the Today Show.
However, it soon become clear that Grace is in deep denial and has failed to heed her own advice. After the horrific murder of a mother at her son’s school, which leads to one shocking revelation after another, Grace must question everything she has held dear. Much of what the reader was told previously turns out to be only one perspective of the truth. Her entire life begins to slowly unravel.
All of the action takes place off stage and the reader lives most of this story in Grace’s head. The pace is slow with a lot of background information and details of Grace’s life, both past and present. Those who find it fascinating to live inside a dysfunctional character’s head, as I do, will love this story. While this isn’t a thriller in the strictest sense of the word, the sense of foreboding is very strong and I flew through the book once I got going. I found the ending a little too pat, and so the 4 stars instead of 5.
Mod
Andrea, too funny! It's a great read if you enjoy quirky, witty satire. The narrator was fabulous and it makes a great listen too.
Mod
23. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin3.5
This is one if those books tough for me to rate. It's somewhere between 3 & 4 stars which isn't possible on GR so I rounded up to 4. It's fun, quirky and charming with some nice literary references but there's not a lot of depth or character development. There was a fairy tale/fable quality to the story.
The way the book is written left me detached and a particular plot development left me unmoved. But the literary references are fun to read and the nod to books & indie booksellers was nice. In the end it was nothing earth-shattering but it was a pleasant way to spend a few hours and it left me with a smile on my face.
24. Winter is Coming: Symbols and Hidden Meanings in Game of Thrones3 stars
I picked this up for a few dollars on Audible. For fans of Game of Thrones, especially for those who haven't read the books, this is a nice overview of some of the relationships, symbols, and meanings and left me with a deeper appreciation of the series.
25. A Circle of Wives by Alice LaPlante2 stars
This one sounded promising, but failed to deliver. A man is found murdered in his hotel room and the police quickly discover that he had 3 wives in 3 different cities. All are suspects. Samantha, a young female detective, is in charge of the investigation.
Although there is a murder and a police investigation, this story is told in alternating chapters with multiple POV and has a “chick-lit” feel to it. The book was light and fluffy, and the narrators of the audio book furthered that impression. The detective’s character was young and inept and stretched believability.
Although I enjoyed the author’s first book, Turn of Mind, this one was not my cup of tea.
26. The Ghost of the Mary Celeste by Valerie Martin4 stars
In 1872, the Mary Celeste was found adrift in the ocean, with no trace of the crew and passengers. Despite the title, this book isn’t solely about the mystery of the Mary Celeste. The author takes this historical event and weaves multiple storylines loosely connected to it. It’s very well-written and captured perfectly the atmosphere of the times.
The mystery of the Mary Celeste is interwoven with the Spiritualism movement, at its height in the mid-to-latter nineteenth-century. There is a sense of death and loss throughout the book, and the very real dangers of life at sea are explored. The author imagines the family of the Mary Celeste’s captain, including a relative who has psychic powers. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote a short story about the Mary Celeste, makes an appearance. The focus of a large part of the book follows the life of a famous psychic of the times.
This is historical fiction at it’s best. There’s quite a lot going on but the author’s skill makes it all work. I found it fascinating and it led me to do a little reading on the side about the Mary Celeste and the Spiritualist movement.
2 stars
Despite being a member of a health care profession, I found much of the material was relayed in a dry, technical manner and there was a lot of repetitiveness and sensationalism.
Halfway through, I ended up speed reading/skimming to the end. It is an important story to tell, thus the 2 stars instead of 1, but perhaps it should have remained a magazine article. There wasn't enough interesting material for a full-length book (not even a 288 page book!), so there was a lot of filler and what looked to me like cutting and pasting after a google search or from a medical textbook.
I wish the author well but I can't recommend this book.